I’m a fan of the brazen and bizarre fashion worn for better or for worse by everyday people (case in point) so I could have watched the film just for the outfits alone. Plus, it’s such a great film about cities. Maybe the best parts of the whole film are watching Bill zoom around town on his Schwinn (no helmet!) and dancing around long-legged women in crosswalks. Each time he’s inside, at a computer, or stopping to eat (not very often for any of those things) you can see how antsy and anxious he is—he just wants to get back outside as soon as possible and check out the parade of outfits.

But the film also says so much about perfecting a craft. This is the life of someone truly devoted to his calling, where every moment of his existence is laser-focused onto doing what he loves. To the point where he lives like a monk in a tiny apartment in Carnegie Hall, surrounded by what seem to be his only possessions: endless metal file cabinets of his negatives. But he gets such joy from his work he has even refused to get paid for it—he notoriously ripped up his first checks from Details. All of it fills you with such hope for keeping at it. This film is a must-see for every creative.

Bill’s giggly, exuberant passion echoed in my head as we stepped out into the light fading slowly above the fashion district. The murky June twilight was doing wonders with the candy-colored signage of the menswear shops. And I did what I always do when that happens. I snapped some photos.

I guess in a way, I’m a street photographer, too. But in the sense that I actually take photos of streets. But as I snapped this shot, I realized that, with the exception of two spindly legs, I hardly ever put people in my photos.

When I look back fifty years from now at all my thousands of photos, stored in their rows of file cabinets on the internet, will it really matter that I got yet another shot of the Eastern Columbia building, as gorgeous as she is? (I mean, she is kinda the Anna Wintour of Los Angeles buildings.) Or will I want to remember the guy in the seersucker suit standing on the terrazzo near the entrance? Bill Cunningham taught me that if I want to truly be studying urbanism, I also need to be looking at who’s walking in front of those buildings. It’s the people who make the cities.

That night on the street, I went to aim the other direction, towards the funny handpainted signs of Italian Corner. But this time, I tilted the camera just so, and put Laura Kate into the shot.

I had also thought about landscaping and thought to contact a Los Angeles Landscape Designer
who was experienced with designs and could provide me with a unique
style my entire family could enjoy. I was surprised to find out that my
general contractor also completed landscape design projects and because I
already designed a kitchen and bathroom remodel with him, was more apt
to complete a landscape design project with him as well. I stressed my
need for a patio awning that covered enough of the patio but didn’t make
it seem like the backyard was completely covered. We discussed awning
material pros and cons, and finally were able to decide on a wooden
awning that suited the wooden deck we were going to install as well.

Read my articles elsewhere

I regularly write about design, architecture, cities, transportation and walking for several publications. You can read my latest and greatest stories below, or clicking on the publication will take you to all my articles for that publication. You can also read my favorite stories from 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

View my photos

Check out our next de LaB

Design East of La Brea is a monthly design event I co-host with Haily Zaki, Marissa Gluck and Erin Cullerton. Almost always east of La Brea. Learn more about past de Labs and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Walk this way

Los Angeles Walks is a new pedestrian advocacy organization that's focused on making walking safe, accessible and fun for all Angelenos. Sign up for our mailing list and join us at an upcoming event to share your ideas or take a walk with us.

Climb some stairs

Join me and some of LA's most interesting people for The Big Parade, an annual 40-mile walk through Los Angeles over the city's many public stairways. Read about this year's walk, or come along for a practice walk (sometimes hosted by me), which take place throughout the year.

Listen to DnA: Design and Architecture

Tune in to DnA: Design & Architecture, the KCRW show hosted by Frances Anderton on the third Tuesday of every month, where I'm an associate producer. For local design events, check out the DnA calendar.

Bring GOOD Ideas for Cities to your city or school

An initiative funded in part by ArtPlace, GOOD Ideas for Cities asks creatives to create solutions to urban problems proposed by city leaders, and present the results at lively public forums. Read more about this program I co-founded with GOOD's Casey Caplowe and how you can get involved.